God, hear my prayer

I don't want to be a part of anything I can design or engineer on my
own.
I would LOVE to be a part of what you're doing, to be a part of
something so life-changing and amazing that people that follow your
Son Jesus and people who don't yet believe will have to say "Surely
God is doing something special there.
May your will be done.
Amen

suffering

Why do we think we're always supposed to be comfortable? So much of what we do is driven by getting or keeping ourselves in a state or place in which we are not stressed, strained or otherwise put out. Advertising of products is typically about how much better our lives will be if we have ______. I guess there's nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable. No one enjoys a cloudy/overcast/cold day with the kids asleep and a hooded sweatshirt and a good movie to watch more than me. Oh and popcorn with just the right amount of salt and an ice- 

cold coke….mmmm. But beyond some down time (which God commands [#4 on the Ten Commandments]) and Jesus' modeling regularly by getting away from the crowds and even the disciples to pray; followers of Christ like Paul mention something about suffering. There's nothing about seeking out our own pleasure.

We choose our homes, careers, clothing, and even our relationships 

based on how pleasant we believe our experience will be. Our houses 

need to have so many bedrooms and bathrooms (what if we had to all 

share one bathroom?!). Our careers should be something we enjoy and 

helps us afford all of the other stuff in life we want. Our clothes 

not only need to be the latest in fashion, they also need to feel good 

to us. Many times people will choose relationships based solely on 

what they will receive from it. But what if that's not how it's 

supposed to be? What if we're called to a different kind of life?

Jesus said that if we want to follow Him, we need to pick up our cross 

daily (Mark 8:34). Doesn't exactly sound like a comfy job description 

for a disciple does it? But Jesus doesn't ask us to do anything He 

didn't do himself. He left heaven and stepped down onto our planet. He 

said He didn't come to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for 

many (Mark 10:45). For you. For me. For everyone. Because He loves us 

all.

Years later Paul said that he wanted to "know Christ and his 

sufferings" (Philippians 3:10). I can imagine hearing that in a sermon 

today. I think some people would bristle at the idea. It seems like 

we've been conditioned to think God is just our comforter and the One 

who will make things better for us. Don't get me wrong, He does do 

that. But what I'm saying is: it's not the whole point; that's not all 

He does.

I'm not sure here in North America we have even an iota of what 

suffering for Jesus would look like. I'm not blaming anyone, just 

saying I think we're not too familiar with the idea. The dictionary on 

my computer says that suffering is "experience or be subjected to 

(something bad or unpleasant)". Have we ever done that for Jesus? 

Besides that one mission trip? It seems to me like we have it pretty 

easy here in the States, especially when I hear of stories from other 

countries where people are losing jobs, being imprisoned, are tortured 

and even killed because they are bold enough to proclaim the name of 

Jesus.

What does suffering for Jesus look like in my life? What about yours?

Maybe it means getting out of our routine long enough to listen to 

someone else. Or stop and help a person in need. Or articulating how 

someone who is far from God can be an active part of the greatest 

story ever told about a God who created people and loved them so much 

that He gave his one and only Son so they could be in a right 

relationship with Him.

Maybe it means that we feel Christ's pain when we see a world mired in 

sin around us. That something in our hearts would cry out to God, 

"Please help in this situation! God you've gotta do something NOW!"

God, if there are ways I can know the fellowship of your sufferings, 

I'm open. Whatever you want God. That's why I'm here.